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Beginner Vegetables: When to pick watermelon?

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    Communities > Forums > Beginner Vegetables
    Forum: Beginner VegetablesReplies: 8, Views: 94
    AuthorContent
    flyinglocksmith
    Montgomery, TX

    May 30, 2011 7:49 PM

    Post #8598228

    Did not keep tags that came w/plant, so not sure what variety. They seem to be mostly round & maybe a little oval. Some are getting fairly good size, but not sure how to tell when ready to eat.
    cando1
    Ozone, AR (Zone 6a)

    May 31, 2011 2:06 AM

    Post #8598532

    We always looked at the stem of the watermelon. If it is brown and withered the melon is ripe.If it is green and healthy looking it is still green.
    Vickie
    flyinglocksmith
    Montgomery, TX

    May 31, 2011 1:39 PM

    Post #8599664

    Wow- that's an easy way to tell! Thanks cando1. Looking forward to eating them - as I have not grown any before. They sure have taken off well, wish everything I tried to grow would do as good.
    SoFlaCommercial
    West Palm Beach, FL (Zone 10b)

    May 31, 2011 2:17 PM

    Post #8599707

    thank you for this post - was wondering same thing!
    cando1
    Ozone, AR (Zone 6a)

    June 1, 2011 11:19 PM

    Post #8603210

    You're very welcome. Injoy those melons!
    Vickie
    Susie2
    Brazoria, TX (Zone 9b)

    June 2, 2011 6:13 AM

    Post #8603554

    Does the same apply to cantalope?
    Farmerdill
    Augusta, GA (Zone 8a)


    June 2, 2011 10:10 AM

    Post #8603974

    Nope regular cantaloupes slip (turn loose from the vine) when ripe. exotics like charantais, some honeydews, most spanish melons, you have to judge by color change. As for the watermelon the actual stem stays green, the indicator is the tendral next to the stem. The old folks called it the the curl and Used "when the curl is dead as one indicator". It is not foolproof, some varieties like Sugar Baby, Black Diamond, Florida Giant seem to have the tendral dry prematurely.

    Thumbnail by Farmerdill
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    MelissahL
    Hempstead, TX (Zone 8a)

    June 6, 2011 12:47 PM

    Post #8613138

    I have some Lil Loupe Melons, when is the time right to harvest them?

    Thanks, Melissa
    flyinglocksmith
    Montgomery, TX

    June 22, 2012 4:45 PM

    Post #9176391

    Yes - this spring I planted the sugar baby variety. Harvested first one soon as tendril started getting brown. Oops, that WAS a little too early. Waited on next one a week after. It was a little too ripe but tasted great! Any more secrets?

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